OK, after 4 years of house building and business start up (and subsequent shutdown) I am finally getting going on my oven (start sound of a heavenly choir!) The kids are pumped and my 12 year old went to HD with me today to purchase the concrete and misc supplies (Dad, can I have some work gloves too!)

Soo, Yesterday I unstacked all of the cinder blocks and cleaned the slab area I had poured when the house was under construction - 6 inch reinforced with 5000 psi concrete.

Restacked the blocks and this morning filled the cavities. Hopefully tonight I will be able to get to placing the deck for the hearth pour - rebar tomorrow and concrete next Saturday. I am planning on using cement board (thanks forthe idea Christo!)

I will be posting some not so good pictures later. I can smell the 'Za cooking now.

The forms were placed a few months ago and I did not want to pour concrete in the heat of the summer in Phoenix! Plus with my travel schedule for work, I have been really sleepy.

I finally poured the hearth today- my neighbor with the mixer was out of town so we had to mix each of the bags by hand.15 -80 lb bags and 2-60 lb bags. Ohhh my back (and thank goodness for a teenage football player - "thanks for the workout Dad!" is what he seriously said.)

Thank goodness that Lowes is around the corner, I mis- calced the cement needed - had to get another 3 bags! As for a cost update
Add:
$20 for concrete
$24 for rebar
$30 for vermiculite
$10 for a bag of portland

Running Total - $230

I am scoring firebricks and possibly some mortar for free from a company I used to work for. Bricks do not have heavy metals in them (tested by a laboratory!) That will save me about $300!

Will Do - my camera with all the pics is at a job site and I cannot get it until wed Although the patio is alot cleaner since I had time today to pressurize since all the birds have been stopping by for a visit to the dogs food and to mock my lack of progress.

Today was gorgeous (about 80 F) so I could not pass up the weather.

I am glad I used the cement board trick you suggested. I also used my rebar on 6 inch centers (did not get a picture since I was in such a rush this am to get going!)

Has anyone used field stones to face their oven? I have found a source of nice looking granite that I was looking at using. Any advice on the mortering? I know - get the dome done first.

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